Disc cartridge including elastically deformable lid member and engaging mechanism for locking lid member to cartridge body

ABSTRACT

A cartridge body of a disc cartridge includes a disc inlet/outlet port for introducing an optical disc into and removing an optical disc from the cartridge body. A lid member is mounted on the cartridge body to be rotatable between a closed position and an opened position. The cartridge body has an abutting portion for abutting against the lid member when the lid member is rotated to the closed position. The lid member includes a first end portion rotatably supported on the cartridge body, and a second end portion which is rotatable around the first end portion and which faces the abutting portion of the cartridge body with a clearance interposed therebetween when the lid member is disposed in the closed position and the lid member is not elastically deformed. The second portion of the lid member is elastically locked in the closed position by a locking mechanism when the second end portion of the lid member positioned in the closed position is elastically deformed in a direction toward the abutting portion so as to eliminate the clearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disc cartridge that contains adisc-like recording medium, such as an optical disc, magneto-opticaldisc, a magnetic disc or the like, and which has an opening forproviding access to the recording medium for recording and/orreproducing an information signal.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a disc cartridge comprises a flat rectangular cartridgebody consisting of an upper case and a lower case coupled with eachother, and a disc, such as an optical disc, magneto-optical disc, or amagnetic disc, rotatably contained in the cartridge body. Each of theupper and lower cases has an opening for exposing that region of thedisc which extends from the center portion of the disc to the outerperipheral portion thereof. A pick-up and a turn-table for rotating thedisc of a recording reproduction device access the disc through theopening portions. In addition, the cartridge body is equipped with aslidable shutter for closing and opening the opening sections. Theshutter is made of a thin metal plate or hard synthetic resin.

On each of the outer surfaces of the cases is formed a concave labeladhering portion such that the concave portion is recessed from theother portions of the surface, and an indication label for indicatingthe contents of the disc is adhered to each of the label adheringportions.

When a disc cartridge having the above-mentioned structure is loadedinto a disc recording reproduction device, the shutter is slid at firstto an end of the cartridge body by a shutter open/close mechanism,thereby opening the opening portions. Subsequently, a turn-table isinserted into the cartridge body through one of the opening portions tosupport the disc, and a pick-up faces the surface of the disc throughthe opening portion. In this state, the disc is rotated by theturn-table, and recording and/or reproduction is performed on the discby the pick-up.

In this kind of disc cartridge, the disc is contained in the cartridgebody and the opening portions are closed by the shutter when the disccartridge is not used, thus realizing safe disc storing. In addition,because the shutter is slid so that the disc in the cartridge body isexposed through the opening portions to enable recording andreproduction, permanent use of the disc is realized.

In the disc cartridge having the structure described above, however,while the disc protection ensures that the disc will last, the disccannot be taken out of the cartridge body so that it is difficult todirectly load the disc in the disc recording/reproducing device, forexample. This kind of disc cartridge thus has severe limitations in thedegree of freedom in disc use.

Particularly, in recent years, there has been requests for a disccartridge applicable to both a disc recording/reproducing device whichis used with one disc singly loaded thereto, and a discrecording/reproducing device which is used with the entire disccartridge loaded thereto.

For this kind of disc cartridge, it is necessary to realize a disccartridge structure in which a disc is securely and rotatably containedin a cartridge body, and in which the disc can be simply and easilyremoved from the disc cartridge body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, andhas as its object to provide a disc cartridge which realizes storing andremoving operations of the disc with a high degree of reliability toimprove the degree of freedom of use of a disc, while ensuring thefunctionality of the disc cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, the disc cartridge comprises: acartridge body for rotatably storing a disc-like recording medium, thecartridge body including an opening portion for exposing a part of asurface of the recording medium, and a disc inlet/outlet port forintroducing and removing the recording medium from the disk cartridge; ashutter slidably arranged on the cartridge body for opening/closing theopening portion; and a lid member mounted on the cartridge bodyrotatable between a closed position, in which the lid member closes thedisc inlet/outlet port, and an open position, in which the lid memberopens or exposes the disc inlet/outlet port. The cartridge body includesan abutting portion which abuts against the lid member when the lidmember is in the closed position. The lid member includes a first endportion rotatably supported on the cartridge body, and a second endportion distal from the first end portion and which faces the abuttingportion of the cartridge body with a clearance interposed therebetweenwhen the lid member is in the closed position. The disc cartridgefurther comprises an elastic engaging mechanism which releasably locksthe second end portion of the lid member against the cartridge body,thereby holding the lid member in the closed position, when the secondend portion of the lid member positioned in the closed position iselastically deformed in a direction toward the abutting portion so as toeliminate the clearance.

According to the above structure, when the lid member is rotated to theclosed position, a clearance is defined between the abutting portion ofthe cartridge body and the second end portion of the lid member. Byelastically deforming the second end portion by a distance equal to theclearance in the direction in-which the lid member is closed, the lidmember is locked into the closed position, thereby blocking access tothe disc inlet/outlet port of the cartridge body. As a result, a marginneed not be provided any more as an elastic stopper means for thepurpose of elastic engagement between the cartridge body and the lidmember. Furthermore, the lid member does not cause backlash in theclosed position, but realizes secure closure.

In addition, according to the present invention, the lid member has acolor that is different from that of the cartridge body. As a result,when the recording medium is used in the cartridge structure, thedirection in which the cartridge body is loaded can be confirmed on thebases of the lid member, so that an incorrect insertion of the cartridgeinto a disc recording/reproducing device can be effectively prevented.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a disc cartridge according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the above-mentioned disc cartridge whereits lid member is opened;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the lower case and the lid member of thedisc cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section cut along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section cut along the line V--V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section cut along the line VI--VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the lid member released;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing a free end of the lid member;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modification of the lid member and thecartridge body;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing the write-protect portion ofthe lid member;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sections schematically showing a step ofpositioning a first write-protect operating portion;

FIG. 11C is a cross-section schematically showing a step of positioninga second write-protect operating portion;

FIG. 12A is a cross-section showing an opening detect portion of thedisc cartridge;

FIG. 12B is a plan view showing a detect pin portion of the openingdetect portion;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section showing a modification of the opening detectportion;

FIG. 14A is a plan view showing another modification of the openingdetect portion;

FIG. 14B is a cross-section showing the opening detect portion accordingto the another modification;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the write-protect operatingportion of the opening detect portion according to the anothermodification;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the disc cartridge and anindication label applied thereto;

FIG. 17 is a cross-section showing a label separation groove of thecartridge body;

FIGS. 18A to 18D are plan views respectively showing differentindication labels; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the disc cartridge and anotherindication label applied thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a disc cartridge according to the presentembodiment comprises a flat rectangular box-like cartridge body 11 andan optical disc 12 contained rotatably in the cartridge body. Thecartridge body includes a pair of main walls (or main surfaces) whichface each other and are in parallel with each other, and four side walls(or side surfaces) which are positioned continuously along theperipheral edges of the main walls.

The cartridge body 11 includes an upper casing 11a and a lower casing11b which are substantially symmetrical to each other and made ofsynthetic resin such as ABS or the like. These casings are arranged soas to face each other, constituting the cartridge body. Further, a discstoring portion 15 (FIGS. 4-6) which will be described later is definedwithin the cartridge body 11, and the optical disc is stored in the discstoring portion 15 with a predetermined clearance maintained between thedisc surfaces and the inner surfaces of the cartridge body 11. The upperand lower casings 11a and 11b respectively face the surfaces A and B ofthe optical disc 12.

In addition, the upper and lower casings 11a and 11b have respectiveopenings 13. The openings 13 have a predetermined width, extend to thevicinity of the front surface 11c of the cartridge body 11 from thecenter portions of the casings, and face each other. These openings 13respectively face the surfaces A and B of the optical disc 12 containedin the cartridge body 11, exposing the optical disc to the outside overthe region from the rotational center of the disc to the outer peripherythereof.

The cartridge body 11 is provided with a shutter 9 of a double-sideintegral type which opens/closes both of the openings 13. The shutter 9has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is fitted onto thecartridge body 11 from the front surface 11c side so as to sandwich bothsurfaces of the cartridge body. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shutter 9is slidable between a closed position wherein the shutter closes theopenings 13 and two open positions defined in both sides of the closedposition wherein the shutter opens the openings 13, in a direction (ordirection A-B) parallel to the front end surface 11c of the cartridgebody 11. Further, the shutter 9 is continuously urged toward the closedposition by shutter springs (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2 a disc inlet/outlet port 14 for inserting/extractingthe optical disc 12 into/from the cartridge body 11 is formed in therear surface 11d of the cartridge body 11, the port 14 extending overthe entire length of the rear surface 11. In addition, a lid member 10for opening/closing the inlet/outlet port 14 is pivotally mounted on thecartridge body 11.

Here, supposing that the insert direction in which the disc cartridge isloaded into a disc record/reproduce device (not shown) is E, the endsurface of the disc cartridge body 11 positioned in the forward side inthe insert direction is defined as the front surface 11c, while the endsurface of the disc cartridge body positioned in the backward side inthe insert direction is defined as the rear surface 11d.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, on the inner surface of the lower casing 11b,a number of ribs 15a extending in the radial direction from the centerof the lower casing corresponding to the center of the stored opticaldisc 12 and a rib 15b having a half-circle shape around the center ofthe lower casing as its center are provided in the region (or secondregion) between the center line X--X of the lower casing and the frontsurface 11c. These ribs 15a are arranged at predetermined intervals inthe circumferential direction around the center of the lower casing 11b.Each of the ribs 15a is shaped such that the height is increasedgradually-in the radial direction from the center of the lower casing11b. The semi-circular rib 15b has a diameter slightly larger than thatof the optical disc 12.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, on the inner surface of the lowercasing 11b, a number of ribs 15c are formed within a region (or firstregion) between the center line X--X of the lower casing and the rearsurface 11d. These ribs 15c are formed such that the ribs are small inheight in the area of the center portion of the lower casing 11b and arelarger in height in the area of both end portions thereof, viewed in thewidthwise direction of the lower casing 11b, i.e., in a directionparallel to the center line X--X.

Note that the upper casing 11a comprises ribs 15a, 15b, and 15c similarto those described above, and is formed in the same manner as the lowercasing 11b. Therefore, the disc storing portion 15 of the cartridge body11, which is defined between the upper and lower casings, is shaped suchthat the disc storing portion 15 is broad in the area of the centerportion of the optical disc 12 and becomes narrower toward the outercircumference of the disc 12, as far as the front half region (or thesecond region) of the cartridge body 11. With respect to the rear halfregion (or the first region) of the cartridge body 11, the disc storingportion 15 has the smallest thickness dimension at both side portions ofthe cartridge body and has the largest thickness dimension at the centerportion between both side portions of the cartridge body. As a result,the optical disc 12 is contained in the disc storing portion 15, withonly the outer peripheral portion supported, and only the outerperipheral portion contacts the inner surface of the cartridge body 11when the optical disc 12 passes through the disc inlet/outlet port 14.

Although the upper and lower casings 11a and 11b of the cartridge body11 define the disc storing portion 15 and the disc inlet/outlet port 14by means of a plurality of ribs 15a, 15b, and 15c, the same shapes asthe storing portion 15 and the port 14 may be defined by the innersurfaces themselves of the casings without using ribs.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the lid member 10 is shaped like a flatelongated plate, has a length substantially equal to the width of thecartridge body 11, and has a thickness which allows the lid member 10 tobe fitted into the disc storing portion 15. A fringe (or flange) 8 isformed at one side of the lid member 10 and extends over the entirewidth of the cartridge body. This fringe 8 projects upwards anddownwards from the lid member 10 in the thickness direction of thecartridge body 11. The lid member 10 is integrally formed of syntheticresin, and is especially formed of synthetic resin of a color differentfrom that of the cartridge body 11.

One end of the lid member 10 is pivoted on a rear right corner portionof the cartridge body 11 by a pivot shaft 10a. Therefore, the lid member10 can be rotated in the arrow direction C-D around the pivot shaft 10a,thereby opening/closing the disc inlet/outlet port 14. When the lidmember 10 is rotated to a closed position, the lid member 10 enters intothe disc storing portion 15 through the disc inlet/outlet port 14, andthe fringe 8 abuts against the rear edges of the cartridge body 11,thereby closing the disc inlet/outlet port 14.

A free end portion of the lid member 10, i.e., the end portion of thelid member 10 opposite to the pivot shaft 10a, is provided with a lockclaw 16 which is elastically deformable, while an engage hole 17 whichthe lock claw 16 can engage is formed in the rear end portion of theleft side wall of the cartridge body 11. Therefore, when the lid member10 is rotated to the position where the lid member 10 closes the discinlet/outlet port 14, the lock claw 16 engages the engage hole 17,thereby locking the lid member 10 to the close position. This lockingcan be released and the lid member 10 can be opened by pushing the lockclaw 16 inward through the engage hole 17 from the outside of thecartridge body 11.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the free end portion of the lid member 10,slanting surfaces 8a are formed on the fringe 8 such that a clearance Mis formed between the fringe 8 and the rear edges of the upper and lowercasings 11a and 11b when the lid member 10 is closed. Each of theslanting surfaces 8a extends outwards in the direction of a 10° anglefrom the point positioned apart from the free end of the fringe 8 by alength L. Thus, a clearance M of about 0.3 mm is obtained at the freeend of the lid member 10.

In the above structure, the lock claw 16 of the lid member 10 and theengage hole 17 of the cartridge body 11 can be engaged with each otherwith a minimum margin, thereby preventing backlash of the lid member 10in the closed position. Specifically, the lock claw 16 is positioned andformed in a manner such that, after the lid member 10 is rotated to theclosed position to bring the other portion of the fringe 8 than theslanting surface 8a into contact with the rear end surface 11d of thecartridge body, the free end portion of the lid member 10 can be furtherpushed toward the rear surface 11d side by the clearance M and is thuselastically deformed so that the lock claw 16 is engaged with the engagehole 17.

Therefore, when the pushing force applied to the free end portion of thelid member 10 is released after the lock claw 16 is engaged with theengage hole 17, the free end portion of the lid member 10 generates anelastic force in the direction in which this free end portion is apartfrom the rear surface 11d of the cartridge body 11, and the lock claw 16is kept engaged with the engage hole 17 by this elastic force.Therefore, the lid member 10 securely closes the disc inlet/outlet port14 of the cartridge body 11 without backlashing.

The same function described above can be obtained if slanting surfaces11e are formed on the rear end surface 11d of the cartridge body 11, asshown in FIG. 9, in place of forming slanting surfaces 8a on the fringe8 of the lid member 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the lid member 10 is provided with anarc-like disc guide recess 18 in correspondence with the disc storingportion 15 of the cartridge body 11. When the lid member 10 is closed, apart of the optical disc 12 is positioned in the disc guide recess 18.When the optical disc 12 stored in the disc storing portion 15 is takenout of the cartridge body 11 through the disc inlet/outlet port 14 whilethe lid member 10 is rotated in the arrow direction D and is therebyopened, the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc 12 is partiallystored in the disc guide recess 18 and is thus prevented from suddenlyor directly falling from the cartridge.

In addition, a stopper 7 (FIG. 7) having a claw-like shape which can beelastically deformed is provided at the end portion of the lid member 10in the side close to the pivot shaft 10a. This stopper 7 elasticallyabuts the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc 12 and preventsthe optical disc from suddenly falling, when the lid member 10 issufficiently opened and the optical disc 12 is extracted out of thecartridge body 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 10, first and second write protectoperating portions 19 and 20, which are elastically deformable, areintegrally formed on the lid member 10 so as to correspond to thesurfaces A and B of the optical disc 12. For example, the first writeprotect operating portion 19 includes an arm portion 19a projecting fromthe substantial center portion of the lid member 10 in the widthwisedirection thereof toward the end portion of the lid member close to thepivot shaft 10a side, a sector portion 19b provided at the extended endof the arm portion 19a, and a switch operating element 19c projectingfrom the sector portion 19b toward the upper casing 11a side. Further,the first write protect operating portion 19 is positioned in an opening6a formed in the lid member 10, and only the proximal end of the armportion 19a is connected to the lid member. As a result, the writeprotect operating portion 19 is rotatable in the opening 6a around theproximal end of the arm portion 19a as the rotational center.

The second write protect operating portion 20 is formed to besymmetrical to the first write protect operating portion 19 with respectto the center of the lid member 10 in the widthwise direction thereof.Specifically, the second write protect operating portion 20 includes anarm portion 20a, a sector portion 20b provided at the extended end ofthe arm portion, and a switch operating element 20c (see FIG. 11C)projecting from the sector portion toward the lower casing 11b side.Further, the second write protect operating portion 20 is positioned inan opening 6b formed in the lid member 10, and only the proximal end ofthe arm portion 20a is connected to the lid member.

In the vicinity of the pivot shaft 10 of the lid member 10, a storinghole 21a is formed in the rear end portion of the upper casing 11a andopen to the rear end surface 11d. In the vicinity of the engage hole 17,another storing hole 21b is formed in the rear end portion of the lowercasing 11b and open to the rear end surface 11d. Further, where the lidmember 10 is closed, the switch operating element 19c of the first writeprotect operating portion 19 and the switch operating element 20c of thesecond write protect operating portion 20 are respectively stored in thestoring holes 21a and 21b, and the first and second write protectoperating portions 19 and 20 can be actuated through the storing holes.

Upon assembling the disc cartridge, when the lid member 10 is attachedto the cartridge body 11 at the disc inlet/outlet port 14, the lidmember 10 is initially mounted at a predetermined position on the lowercasing 11b. In this case, the pivot shaft 10a integrally formed with thelid member 10 is inserted into a hole (not shown) of the lower casing11b, and the lid member is maintained at its closed position.

Next, the upper casing 11a is covered over the lid member 10 and thelower casing 11b from the upside, such that the pivot shaft 10a of thelid member 10 is inserted into a hole (not shown) of the upper casing.In this manner, the lid member 10 is assembled between the upper andlower casings 11a and 11b while maintained at the closed position.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the storing hole 21a formed in theupper casing 11a has a slanting surface 21c which is positioned in thebottom side of the storing hole 21a and in the inner surface side of theupper casing 11a and which functions as guide means. When the uppercasing 11a is covered over the lower casing 11b, the switch operatingelement 19c of the first write protect operating portion 19 of the lidmember 10 is guided to the rear surface side of the upper casing 11aalong the slanting surface 21c of the storing hole 21a. When connectionbetween both casings is completed (or in the state where assembling ofboth casings is completed), the switch operating element 19c iscontained in the storing hole 21a, kept in contact with the bottom endof the storing hole 21a, and the first write protect operating portion19 is positioned at a predetermined initial operating position.

Specifically, the first write protect operating portion 19 is in amolding position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10 before the lidmember 10 is assembled into the cartridge body 11. Further, the firstwrite protect operating portion 19 is automatically positioned at theinitial operating position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 10 whenthe lid member 10 is assembled in the cartridge body 11. Then, thisfirst write protect operating portion 19 can be switched between theinitial operating position (e.g., a write protect position) and aswitched position (or a write allowable position) indicated by a dotsand dashed line shown in FIG. 10. Note that the initial operatingposition may otherwise be set to a write allowable position while theswitched position may be set to the write protect position.

Likewise, the second write protect operating portion 20 is positioned atan initial operating position at the time point, such that the switchoperating element 20c is guided along the slanting surface 21d of thestoring hole 21b formed in the lower casing 11b and is brought intocontact with the bottom end of the storing hole 21b, and that theoperating portion 20 can be operated, when connection between the uppercasing 11a and the lower casing 11b is completed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 7, 12A, and 12B, the disc cartridge comprisesan opening detect mechanism for detecting whether the lid member isopened or closed. Specifically, a through-hole 22 for detecting whetherthe lid member is opened or closed is formed in the vicinity of the freeend of the lid member 10, and extends in the direction perpendicular tothe moving direction of the lid member. When the lid member 10 is in theclosed position, a detection pin 23 standing on the inner surface of thelower casing 11b is inserted in the through-hole 22.

The proximal end portion of the detect pin 23 is positioned in acircular opening 5 defined in the lower casing 11b and is formedintegrally with the lower casing 11b while being connected to the lowercasing 11b through thin bridges 23a, so that the pin 23 can be easilybent and taken off from the lower casing 11b. The opening 5 is alignedwith the through-hole 22 of the lid member 10 when the lid member is inthe closed position. Further, the detect pin 23 is inserted into thethrough-hole 22 when attaching the lid member 10 to the casings so as tocorrespond the lid member 14 to the disc inlet/outlet port 14 of thelower casing 11b while assembling the disc cartridge.

Prior to opening the lid member 10 for the first time after assemblingthe disc cartridge, the detect pin 23 is kept inserted in thethrough-hole 22 of the lid member 10. Therefore, the through-hole 22 isclosed by the detect pin 23, and cannot be used to detect whether or notthe lid member 10 has once been opened.

If the lid member 10 is rotated and opened in the arrow direction Daround the pivot shaft 10a as the rotation center to extract the opticaldisc 12 from the cartridge body 11, the detect pin 23 is pushed by thelid member 10 and is bent at the bridges 23a and detaches from the lowercasing 11b, so that detect pin 23 is removed together with the lidmember 10 to the outside of the cartridge body. In addition, thecircular opening 5 is formed as a mark of the detect pin 23 after thispin is detached. Therefore, when the lid member 10 is closed again, thecircular opening 5 of the lower casing 11b and the through-hole 22 ofthe lid member 10 are aligned with each other. Consequently, thethrough-hole 22 of the lid member 10 can be detected through the opening5.

If the lid member 10 is thus opened from the disc inlet/outlet port 14to a state in which the disc can be extracted, the detect pin 23 of thelower casing 11b is removed, and as a result, it is possible to detectthat the lid member 10 has once been opened, i.e., that the optical disc12 has once been extracted from the cartridge body 11.

Note that the detect pin 23 may be provided on the upper casing 11a.

As shown in FIG. 13, the opening detect mechanism may have anotherconstruction wherein a through-hole 40 for detecting whether the lidmember 10 is opened or closed is formed in the upper casing 11a and adetect pin 42, which is engaged with the through-hole 40 and can beeasily bent and removed, is provided on the lid member 10, e.g., on thewrite protect operating portion 20, so that the detect pin 42 is bentand detached when the lid member 10 is rotated and opened from the discinlet/outlet port 14 of the cartridge body 11. In this manner, whetherthe through-hole 40 formed in the upper casing 11a is closed or openedis detected, and whether or not the lid member 10 has once been openedis identified. In this case, the through-hole 40 used for detection maybe formed in the lower casing 11b.

In this case, the through-hole 40 is formed to be elongated in themoving direction of the write protect operating portion 20 so that thewrite protect operating portion 20 can be switched and operated when thelid member 10 is closed. In addition, the through-hole 40 and the detectpin 42 extend in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction ofthe lid member 10.

In addition, the opening detect mechanism may be constructed as shown inFIGS. 14A, 14B, and 15. Specifically, the lid member 10 is provided witha write protect operating portion 30, which is movable in an arrowdirection E-F. This write protect operating portion 30 is provided witha bent portion 31 connected by an elastic arm 31a, and the bent portion31 is bent in a V-shaped and can be elastically deformed through theelastic arm 31a. An operating element 30c is formed on the write protectoperating portion 30. In addition, a position limit projection 32 thatabuts against the bent portion 31 is projected on the inner surface ofthe upper casing 11a. Further, when the lid member 10 is providedbetween the upper and lower casings 11a and 11b, the bent portion 31 isbrought into contact with the position limit projection 32 and isinstalled in a bent position by being deformed by limit projection 32against the elasticity of the bent portion 31 itself.

In the structure described above, when the lid member 10 is rotated inthe arrow direction D with respect to the cartridge body 11, as has beendescribed above, this lid member opens the disc inlet/outlet port 14 ofthe cartridge body 11, and simultaneously the bent portion 31 leaves theposition limit projection 32.

When the lid member 10 once opened is rotated in the arrow direction Cthereby closing the disc inlet/outlet port 14 of the cartridge body 11,the corner portion side of the write protect operating portion 30 isbrought into contact with the position limit portion 32, and is rotatedin the counterclockwise direction by the position limit projection 32,in accordance with rotation of the lid member. As a result, the writeprotect operating portion 30 is moved in the arrow direction E, andlocked at the write protect position. Further, whether or not the lidmember 10 is opened from the disc inlet/outlet portion 14 is identifiedon the basis of the position of the write protect operating portion 30.

In the rear end portion of the cartridge body 11, as shown in FIGS. 1,16, and 17, first label adhering portions 25, each having a rectangularconcave shape and each recessed from the other portions, arerespectively formed in the main surfaces of the upper and lower casings11a and 11b which are opposite to the optical disc. (For conveniences,FIG. 1 shows only one of the first label adhering portions 25 which isprovided in the upper casing.) In addition, a second label adheringportion 26 having an elongated rectangular shape is formed on the outersurface of the lid member 10 and is continuous to the first labeladhering portions 25.

Concave position limit portions 26a projecting to both sides of thecartridge body 11 are respectively provided at both ends of the secondlabel adhering portion 26. Further, label separation grooves 27 areformed on the rear edges of the upper and lower casings 11a and 11b andextend along the boundaries between the first label adhering portions 25and the second label adhering portion 26.

An indication label 28 having first to third rectangular indicationsurfaces 28a, 28b, and 28c is adhered on the first and second labeladhering portions 25 and 26 of the cartridge body 11, as shown in FIG.16. Among these indication surfaces, the second indication surface 28bis shaped so as to have a longer length dimension than the first andthird indication surfaces 28a and 28c, and is positioned with respect tothe second label adhering portion 26 in such a manner that three edgesof each side projecting portion of the indication surface 28b arematched with the corresponding position limit portion 26a of the secondlabel adhering portion 26. At the same time, the first and thirdindication surfaces 28a and 28c of the indication label 28 are adheredonto the first label adhering portions 25 such that the end portions ofthese surfaces respectively correspond to the end portions of the firstlabel adhering portions 25 of the upper and lower casings 11a and 11b.

The position limit portions 26a of the second label adhering portion 26are formed such that the position limit portions 26a define at least twoend edges of the indication surface 28b of the indication label 28.

Further, the indication label 28 thus adhered on the first and secondlabel adhering portions 25 and 26 can be easily divided into first tothird indication surfaces 28a to 28c by tracing the label separategrooves 27 of the cartridge body 11 with use of a tool, such as a pen orthe like. Therefore, the indication label 28 adhered on the first andsecond label adhering portions 25 and 26 can easily be replacedpartially, such as in units of first to third indication surfaces 28a to28c. As a result of this, when information in the optical disc 12 isover-written, for example, the label can be easily replaced in such amanner that replacement of a current indication label does not affectrecords on other portions of the current indication label.

Hence, the indication label 28 is adhered on a base sheet 33 with anadhesion applied on the back surface of the label such that the labelcan be pealed off from the sheet, as shown in FIGS. 18A to 18D. In caseof the indication label 28 shown in FIG. 18A, boundaries between firstto third indication surfaces 28a to 28c are not processed. However,perforation-like cutting guide lines (FIG. 18B) may be formed at apredetermined distance maintained therebetween, or cutting guide lines(FIG. 18C) continuously extending in the widthwise direction to themiddle area of the boundaries may be formed on the boundaries, so thatfirst to third indication surfaces can be separated from each other uponrequest after the indication label 28 is adhered on the cartridge body11. In this manner, handling ability of the label can be improved whenadhering labels.

Otherwise, as shown in FIG. 19, indication labels 29a to 29c each havingone single indication surface may be independently adhered on the firstand second label adhering portions 25 and 26 of the cartridge. Then, theadhering area of the second label adhering portion 26 of the lid member10 in the rear end side of the cartridge body 11 can particularly beenlarged, so that the indication contents can achieve a high degree offreedom. In this case, the indication labels 29a to 29c areindependently adhered on the base sheet, as shown in FIG. 18D.

When the disc cartridge constructed as described above is loaded into adisc recording/reproducing device (not shown) along the insert directionE shown in FIG. 1, the shutter 9 is slid toward an end side (to the leftor right) at first by the shutter opening/closing mechanism in thedevice, and the opening portion 13 is thereby opened. Then, a turn table(not shown) enters through the opening portion 13 into the cartridgebody 11 to rotatably support the optical disc 12 while a pick-up facesone surface of the optical disc 12 through the opening portion 13.

In this state, the optical disc 12 is rotated by the turn-table, andinformation signals are recorded on and/or reproduced from the opticaldisc 12 by the pick-up. To record information into the optical disc 12,the first or second write protect operating portion 19 or 20 must bepreviously set to the write allowable position.

To extract the optical disc 12 from the cartridge body 11, the lock claw16 of the lid member 10 is pushed so as to elastically deform anddisengage the engage hole 17, and the lid member is rotated in the arrowdirection D. Then, the disc 12 stored in the disc storing portion 15 ofthe cartridge body 11 is guided along the disc guide groove portion 18of the lid member 10, passing through the disc inlet/outlet port 14, sothat extraction of the disc is enabled. In this state, the lid member 10bends and detaches the open/close detect pin 23 provided in the lowercasing 11b of the cartridge body 11, in association with its rotation,thereby indicating that the lid member 10 has been opened so that thedisc can be extracted.

This lid member 10 closes the disc inlet/outlet port 14 when the lidmember 10 is rotated in the arrow direction C from its open position. Inthis case, if the free end portion of the lid member 10 is pushed untilit eliminates the clearance M and abuts against the rear end surface 11dof the cartridge body 11, the lock claw 16 is elastically engaged withthe engage hole 17, and the lid member 10 securely closes the discinlet/outlet port 14, while being kept in contact with the rear endsurface of the cartridge body 11 by the elastic force of the lid member.

According to the disc cartridge constructed as described above, the lidmember 10 is provided on an end portion of the disc inlet/outlet port 14of the cartridge body 11, at one end of the lid member and a clearance Mis formed between the other end portion of the lid member and thecorresponding abutting surface of the cartridge body 11, where the discinlet/outlet port 14 is kept closed. Further, the lock claw 16 iselastically engaged with engage hole 17 of the cartridge body 11 and thelid member is locked in the closed position of the disc inlet/outletport 14 by pushing the other end portion of the lid member 10 in theclosing direction by the clearance M, with the disc inlet/outlet port 14of the cartridge body 11 kept closed.

In this structure, the position arrangement of the lock claw 16 of thelid member 10 and the engage hole 17 of the cartridge body 11 can berealized in the form of a highly precise elastic engagement using theclearance M, without particularly providing an operation margin (for anover-stroke). Therefore, the lid member does not cause backlash in theclosed position, but securely closes the disc inlet/outlet port 14 ofthe cartridge body 11.

Therefore, the open/close operation of the lid member 10 is carried outwith a high degree of reliability with respect to the cartridge body 11storing the optical disc 12. As a result, the optical disc can beextracted for the purpose of single use of the disc while ensuring thedisc cartridge structure that the optical disc 12 is contained in thecartridge body 11. The degree of freedom in use of discs can thus beimproved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.For example, the above explanation has been made to an embodimentapplied to the optical disc 12 having data recording surfaces on bothsides. However, the present invention is not limited thereto but can beapplied to such a disc 12 which has a data recording surface on only oneside. The recording medium is not limited to the optical disc, but anyother kind of disc-like recording medium such as a the magnetic disc, amagneto-optical disc, or the like is applicable.

The clearance M defined between the end surface of the cartridge body 11and the fringe 8 of the lid member 10 is not limited to the structure ofusing slanting surfaces 8a formed on the lid member or on the cartridgebody, but may be realized by a structure using steps. In the embodimentdescribed above, the lock claw 16 as an elastic engagement portion isprovided in the lid member 10 and the engage hole 17 is formed in thecartridge body 11. Conversely, the engage hole may be formed in the lidmember 10 while the lock claw is provided on the cartridge body 11.

Also, in the above embodiment, the disc inlet/outlet port 14, which isclosed and opened by the lid member, is provided at that end face of thecartridge body 11, which is opposite to the opening portions 13 of thecartridge body 11. However, the disc inlet/outlet port 14 may beprovided at another end of the cartridge body, except for the end of thecartridge body where the opening portion 13 is provided.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc cartridge comprising:a cartridge body forstoring a disc-like recording medium, said cartridge body beingconstructed and arranged to permit rotation of the recording medium whenthe recording medium is stored therein, said cartridge body having anopening portion for exposing a part of a surface of the recording mediumand a disc inlet/outlet port for receiving the recording medium in andremoving the recording medium from said cartridge body; a shuttermounted on said cartridge body and slidable between an open position inwhich said opening portion is exposed and a closed position in whichsaid opening portion is closed; a lid member mounted on said cartridgebody and rotatable between a closed position in which said lid membercloses said disc inlet/outlet port and an open position in which saidlid member opens said disc inlet/outlet port; said cartridge bodyincluding an abutting portion that abuts against said lid member whensaid lid member is rotated to the closed portion; said lid member havinga first end portion pivotally supported on said cartridge body and asecond end portion which is pivotable around said first end portion tomove said lid member between the open and closed positions, said secondend portion including a slanting surface which faces and is oblique tosaid abutting portion and which defines a clearance between saidslanting surface and said abutting portion when said lid member is inthe closed position and is not elastically deformed; and an engagingmechanism that releasably locks said second end portion against saidcartridge body to maintain said lid member in the closed position whensaid second end portion is positioned in the closed position andelastically deformed in a direction toward said abutting portion so asto eliminate the clearance.
 2. A disc cartridge according to claim 1,wherein said slanting surface extends to said second end portion from acenter between said first and second end portions of said lid member. 3.A disc cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid member includesa lid body which enters in said disc inlet/outlet port when said lidmember is in the closed position, wherein a fringe projects from saidlid body and against said abutting portion of said cartridge body whensaid lid member is in the closed position, and wherein said fringedefines said slanting surface.
 4. A disc cartridge according to claim 1,wherein said abutting portion of said cartridge body defines a slantingsurface obliquely facing said second end portion of said lid member. 5.A disc cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said engaging mechanismcomprises an engage hole formed in said cartridge body, and an engageclaw provided on said second end portion of said lid member thatelastically and releasably engages said engage hole when said second endportion of said lid member is elastically deformed in the directiontoward said abutting portion so as to eliminate the clearance.
 6. A disccartridge according to claim 5, wherein said lid member includes a lidbody which enters in said disc inlet/outlet port when said lid member isin the closed position, wherein a fringe projects from said lid body andagainst said abutting portion of said cartridge body when said lidmember is in the closed position, and wherein said engage claw is formedon said lid body.
 7. A disc cartridge according to claim 1, wherein saidlid member is a different color than said cartridge body.
 8. A disccartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid member includes astopper for elastically abutting against the recording medium when saidlid member is in a partially open position and the recording member isattempted to be removed from said cartridge body through said discinlet/outlet port with said lid member in the partially open position.9. A disc cartridge comprising:a cartridge body for storing a disc-likerecording medium, said cartridge body being constructed and arranged topermit rotation of the recording medium when the recording medium isstored therein, said cartridge body having an opening portion forexposing a part of a surface of the recording medium and a discinlet/outlet port for receiving the recording medium in and removing therecording medium from said cartridge body; a shutter mounted on saidcartridge body and slidable between an open position in which saidopening portion is exposed and a closed position in which said openingportion is closed; a lid member mounted on said cartridge body androtatable between a closed position in which said lid member closes saiddisc inlet/outlet port and an open position in which said lid memberopens said disc inlet/outlet port; said lid member having a first endportion pivotally supported on said cartridge body and a second endportion which is pivotable around said first end portion to move saidlid member between the open and closed positions, said cartridge bodyincluding an abutting portion that abuts against said lid member whensaid lid member is rotated to the closed portion, said abutting portionincluding a slanting surface which faces and is oblique to said secondend portion of said lid member and which defines a clearance betweensaid slanting surface and said second end portion when said lid memberis in the closed position and is not elastically deformed; and anengaging mechanism that releasably locks said second end portion againstsaid cartridge body to maintain said lid member in the closed positionwhen said second end portion is positioned in the closed position andelastically deformed in a direction toward said abutting portion so asto eliminate the clearance.
 10. A disc cartridge according to claim 9,wherein said engaging mechanism comprises an engage hole formed in saidcartridge body, and an engage claw provided on said second end portionof said lid member that elastically and releasably engages said engagehole when said second end portion of said lid member is elasticallydeformed in the direction toward said abutting portion so as toeliminate the clearance.
 11. A disc cartridge according to claim 10,wherein said lid member includes a lid body which enters in said discinlet/outlet port when said lid member is in the closed position,wherein a fringe projects from said lid body and against said abuttingportion of said cartridge body when said lid member is in the closedposition, and wherein said engage claw is formed on said lid body.
 12. Adisc cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said lid member is adifferent color than said cartridge body.